Ridley's Calf and Heifer Rearing
- Ute Muster Intro
- Show & Shine
- Monster Trucks
- Country Music - Travis Collins
- Optus - Broadband Network Coverage
- Preparing For Bushfires
- Country Music - Troy Cassar-Daley
- Grunt Off
- Circle Work
- Blue Singlets
- Interview - John Harvie
- Deni - Closer
- Last Week:
- Make a Scene - Optus
- Kelly hope
- Manildra
- ATV Safety
- STC Starfire ITC Receiver
- Hay Fires
- Rural Fire Service
- Optus/Thuraya Satellite Phone
Plugin or Upgrade Required
If you are seeing this message, you made need to upgrade your Flash plugin, or turn on Java Script in your browser, or upgrade your browser itself (Internet Explorer, Firefox) so you can view our videos.Rearing calves and heifers are a huge expense to dairy farmers and getting a good return on the money outlaid is important. Calves are the future of the dairy herd; they represent the best genetics on the farm so it is vital they get a good start in life. The time from birth to weaning is critical for the growing dairy heifers. Proper feeding and management will ensure cows are healthy and reach their maximum milk producing potential.
During weaning the calf's body will change dramatically. It can be a stressful
time so providing the right diet for your calves is important. After weaning of
dairy heifers they are dependent on solid feed for growth and nutrition. Good nutrition plays a pivotal role in helping the cows reach their maximum milk producing potential, maintain fertility, increase longevity and to lactate at the right age and body weight.
It is common knowledge that a mother's colostrum is vital to the calf's development. Adding an appropriate supplementary feed will benefit the calf's growth. Supplements are available in two forms. Pellets contain true protein, minerals, trace elements, vitamins and levels of starch to promote early rumen development. The other is steam-flaked calf meal which includes a coarse mix of molasses and chaff.
When feeding it is important that fresh clean water is also supplied. as Additionally, straw and hay will provide any extra fibre needed for effective rumen muscle development. After weaning, the calves and heifers gain size from the forage that they graze on, but feeding on only forage may prevent them from gaining their maximum weight.
Understanding the heifer's requirements according to her size, age, and how much food she eats, will help producers calculate what type of feed to give her and if necessary how much supplement is needed for her to reach her desired growth. With the correct diet heifers will grow at the right rate, get to their first calving at the right time and reach their milk production potential. This will ensure you can get the best return on your herds.
To learn more about Ridley's feed supplements visit Ridley AgriProducts.
To contact a member of the Ridley's Nutritionist Service team call 1300 66 66 57.
